System for supplying oil to internal combustion engines



June 16, 1964 H. AUSSERBAUER 3,137,285

SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING OIL. TO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 1,1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l IHIIHI, .0

INVENTOR.

HEL MUT AUSSERBAUER BY: g To [Ream June 16, 1964 H. AUSSERBAUER SYSTEMFOR SUPPLYING OIL TO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 1, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: HELMUT AUSSERBAUER swig- EGENT reservoirs.

3,137,285 SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYWG 01L T INTERNAL COMBUSTIQN ENGINES HelmetAusserbauer, Ingolstadt (Danube), Germany, assigner to Auto Union GambitIngolstadt (Danube),

Germany 7 m a Filed May 1, 1963, Ser. No. 277,365 Claims priority,application Germany May 16, 1962 Claims. (Cl. 123-119) My presentinvention relates to a system for supplying oil to internal-combustionengines and, more particularly, to apparatus for metering, inpredetermined quantities, a lubricant to the carburetor or fuel injectorof an internalcombustion engine for admixture of the lubricant to thefuel prior to introduction into the combustion cylinders.

Heretofore, internal combustion engines and especially so-calledtwo-cycle or two-stroke devices have been provided with the pumps or thelike for metering a predetermined proportion of lubricant to thefuel-injecting means of the engine. In the fuel-injecting means, the oilis admixed with a fuel (e.g. gasoline) and dispersed in a gas stream orgasified for introduction into the engine cylinder, wherein it iscompressed and ignited to provide motive power. For the most part, theoil-supply system included an oil reservoir mounted directly. upon theengine block and communicating with the pump through a relatively largeopening so that oil supply to the engine was insured even when the oilwas in a highly viscous state, e.g. when starting in cold weather. Knownsystems of this type had several not inconsiderable disadvantages.Firstly, the vibrations of the engine block were directly applied to theentire oil reservoir and adversely affected the welded joints normallyemployed in assembling these This was particularly the case when the oilreservoir was designed to be used for both highand low-- power enginessince it had to be dimensioned to withstand the vibrational stressesapplied by the high-power engine even if it was to be used only with alow-power engine if high-production rates and interchangeability ofparts was of importance.

Secondly, the oil reservoir must be composed of heatresistant butnevertheless heat-conductive material so that some prewarming of the oilcan be effected without deterioration of the walls of the reservoirThirdly such known constructions are characterized by a variation in thequantity of oil supplied to the engine at constant pump displacementsince the oil in the reservoir heats only slowly as a consequence of itslarge integral heat capacity so that the viscosity of the oil decreasesprogressively after starting over a relatively long operating period. 7

It is an object of the present invention to provide the oil-supplysystem for an internal-combustion engine wherein the aforementioneddisadvantages are obviated and whose components are conducive to serialproduction and are interchangeable in engines of a wide range of poweroutput.

Another object of this invention is to provide an oilvention, byproviding a system for supplying a lubricant to an internal-combustionengine wherein the largek i United States Patent 0 capacity oilreservoir is mounted upon a support with respect to which the engineblock can vibrate, an oildisplacing pump being provided on the block andin communication with a preheating chamber thereon, whose capacity is asmall fraction of that of the reservoir to which it is coupled bysuitable conduit means designed so as not to impede substantially theflow of lubricant into the heating chamber even when the oil is in ahighly viscous state. Advantageously, the conduit means flexiblyinterconnects the reservoir with the heating chamber so thattransmission of vibrational stress from the latter to the former is notpossible, the conduit means being of relatively large diameter to insurefree flow of the lubricant in its most viscous operative state.

I have found that best results are obtained when the housing meansconstituting the heating chamber is composed of a metal having highthermal conductivity (e.g. aluminum or aluminum alloy) whereby engineheat is communicated without substantial loss to the oil within theheating chamber. The housing means can thus be produced by die casting aso-called light-metal alloy. The housing means is preferably flangeddirectly to the pump whose large-diameter intake bore registers with thepreheating chamber, the diameter of which is approximately equal to thatof the intake bore.

According to another feature of this invention, the pre heating chamberis disposed adjacent the exhaust duct (e.g. manifold or elbow) so as tobe heated by the latter. Furthermore, wall means may be provided at themanifold to form a heat shaft open in the direction of the heatingchamber whose housing means is then provided with a concavity registeredwith this shaft. To make use of con vection currents as well as radiantheat, the heating chamber is disposed above the exhaust duct, the heatshaft be ing substantially vertical.

Still another feature of the present invention resides in positioningthe heating reservoir in such location that it is out of the path ofthermal radiation or convection currents from the exhaust duct and can,therefore, be composed of a transparent or translucent material (e.g. asynthetic resin of, say, the polyacrilic type). This arrangementdispenses with any need for a dip stick or other oil-level indicatorsince the level of the oil can be readily determined by observing itslocation in the lightpermeable reservoir. The preheating chamber can beadjustably mounted on the engine block together with the pump securedthereto in order to permit tightening of the drive belt passing aroundthe pump pulley. The mounting means may include a pivot arrangement anda locking device for securing the heating chamber in a selectedposition. For convenience, the oil reservoir can bev mounted upon thewheel housing of a vehicle body whose chassis also carried the engine. Ihave found that excellent results can be obtained with a system of thistype when the outlet tube connecting the pressure side of the pump withthe fuel gasifier is received, at least. along the intermediate portionof its length, in one or more grooves provided in the engine block. Ifthe tube is heat-conductive, this system reduces heating losses sincethe engine block is normally at a somewhat elevated temperature.

The above and other .objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention become more readily apparent from the following descriptionreference being made to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly broken away, of an internalcombustion engine provided with a fuel system according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the system; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the reservoir, partly in section,along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

The motor vehicle shown in the drawing comprises a wheel housing 9 forthe front or rear wheel constituting part of the vehicle body 2. A base3 is bolted to the body via its flanges 3 and carries an oil reservoir 1of light-permeable and preferably transparent synthetic resin throughwhich the oil level 1' can be viewed. This reservoir is seated upon acushion 3" of resilient material and is provided with a filling cap 1"which is removable to permit introduction of oil into the reservoir 1.The latter is held in place by a corner plate 30 engaged by a pair oftie rods 31 and butterfly nuts 32. The spigot 1a at the base of thereservoir has a relatively large aperture (on the order of, say cm.)over which is sleeved a flexible hose 5, constituting a conduit meansflexibly interconnecting the reservoir 1 with a preheating chamber 4.The flexible hose 5 can be composed of a rubber or rubberized fabric,capable of resisting chemical deterioration by the oil, and is fixed tothe spigot it: by a strap clamp 5 at one end of the hose. At the otherend thereof the hose is forced over a corrugated spigot 4' of thepreheating device. The latter comprises housing means 4 forming agenerally cylindrical chamber 4" into which the hose 5 opens and whichregisters with the intake opening of a pump 6 and is of substantiallythe same diameter as this opening.

Pump 6 is provided with a flange 6a by which it is bolted to thecomplementary flange 4a of heating device 4 with or without anintermediate seal. The oil pump 6 can be of any conventionalpositive-displacement type and has an outlet 6b via which oil is fed tothe engine. The housing means 4 of the heating chamber is provideddirectly above the exhaust duct 7 and is formed with a downwardly openconcavity 14- registering with a vertical heating shaft 15a formed byvertical wall means 15 above the exhaust duct 7. This shaft is open atits bottom 15b to admit air heated by conduct with the duct 7 andpermits it to rise by convection into the cavity 14 of the heaterhousing 4 whence it escapes at the month 1412 of this cavity. Thehousing means 4 is composed of a high-conductive metal so that heattransferred to it by radiation from the blackened and roughened manifold7 therebelow is communicated directly to the lubricant within theheating chamber 4". It should be noted that the housing means is alsoheated by convection as previously indicated and by conduction as aconsequence of its mounting directly upon the engine.

The engine block 8 is provided with a support 8 upon which a pair oflugs 1% are bolted. Pintle bolts 11, 11', threadedly received in thehousing 4, serve as pivots for this housing and the pump 6 flangedthereto. A strapsteel bar 12, secured by a nut 12' to the exhaust duct7, is provided with an elongated slot 12" in which a bolt 12a secured tothe housing 4 can slide. A nut 12b constitutes locking means forsecuring the housing 4 in a selected position of adjustment about itspivot. The pump 6 is provided with a V-belt pulley 13 which is driven bythe drive pulley 18 mounted upon the crank shaft of the engine 8. Thebelt 16 passes around pulleys 18 and 13 as well as around the fan pulley17. It should be noted, however, that it is also possible merely todrive the pump directly from the crankshaft or to use any other suitabletransmission. A tube 19, of high thermal conductivity (e.g. composed ofcopper) is connected to the outlet 6b of pump 6 and passes into the oilreservoir 20 of the mixing device 20 wherein the oil is admixed with thegasoline or other fuel and atomized for introduction into the engine viaintake duct 20". The atomizing device can be of any conventionalcarburetor type suitable for use in a two-stroke engine, it beingdesirable that the oil inlet should enter the fuel line as close to themixing tube as possible. The cylinder block 8 just below the cylinderhead 22 is provided with a groove 21, in which the tube 19 is receivedsubstantially at its midpoint for support thereof. Since the cylinderblock is at an elevated temperature from operation of the engine, thisarrangement conserves the heat of the oil in line 19. The groove, ifdesired,

can extend over a substantial portion of the length of tube 19 (e.g.about half) for this purpose.

When the engine is started, the initial revolutions of the crankshaftpulley 18 drives the pump 6 to force oil into the mixing tube and thenceinto the cylinder of the engine. The oil is, however, in a relativelyviscous state, so that its free movement is somewhat retarded. Whenviscous, the oil is fed to the pump with the aid of starting vibrationsof the cylinder block which facilitate the displacement of the oil fromhose 5 and chamber 4" to the intake side of the pump. After the firstfew revolutions of the engine, the exhaust duct 7 is heated and its heatcommunicated to the housing 4 in heat-absorbing relationship therewith.The relatively small volume of oil in the preheating chamber is rapidlybrought to the desired temperature wherein its viscosity enables it tobe readily displaced by pump 6. Since hose 5 has a large crosssection,oil freely flows by gravity from the reservoir 1, whose vented capadmits air thereto, to the heating chamber.

The invention as described and illustrated is believed to admit of manymodifications within the ability of persons skilled in the art, all suchmodifications being considered within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

a I claim:

1. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport, said system comprising: a

a reservoir for said oil mounted upon said support;

an oil-displacing pump secured to said engine and coupled therewith foroperation thereby to meter oil to said engine;

housing means on said engine forming a pre-heating chamber for said oil,said chamber communicating with said pump; and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber.

2. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport and having an exhaust duct extending therefrom, said systemcomprising:

a reservoir for said oil mounted upon said support;

an oil-displacing pump secured to said engine and coupled therewith foroperating thereby to meter oil to said engine;

housing means on said engine, in heat-absorbing relationship with saidduct, forming a preheating chamber for said oil, said chambercommunicating with said pump; and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber.

3. A system for supplying oil to an internal combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport, said system comprising:

a reservoir for said oil mounted upon said support;

an oil-displacing pump coupled with said engine for operation thereby tometer oil to said engine;

. housing means forming a preheating chamber for said oil, said chambercommunicating with said pump means for securing said pump to saidhousing means;

mounting means adjustably securing said housing means to said engine;and conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and saidheating chamber.

.4. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to in- 7 ing an exhaust ductextending therefrom, said system comprising:

areservoir for said oil mounted upon said support;

an oil-displacing pump coupled with said engine for operating thereby tometer oil to said engine;

housing means in heat-absorbing relationship with said duct, forming apreheating chamber for said oil, said chamber communicating with saidpump means for securing said pump to said housing means;

mounting means adjustably securing said housing means to said engine;and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber.

.5. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport, said system comprising:

a reservoir of light-permeable material for said oil mounted upon saidsupport;

an oil-displacing pump secured to said engine and coupled therewith foroperation thereby to meter oil to said engine;

housing means on said engine, forming a pre-heating chamber for saidoil, said chamber communicating with said pump; and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber.

6. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport and having an exhaust duct extending therefrom, said systemcomprising:

a reservoir of light-permeable material for said oil mounted upon saidsupport;

an oil-displacing pump secured to said engine and coupled therewith foroperation thereby to meter oil to said engine;

housing means on said engine in heat-absorbing relationship with saidduct, forming a preheating chamber for said oil, said chambercommunicating with pump; and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber.

7. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport and having an exhaust duct extending therefi'om, said systemcomprising:

a reservoir of light-permeable material for said oil mounted upon saidsupport; an oil-displacing pump coupled with said engine for operationthereby to meter oil to said engine;

housing means in heat absorbing relationship with said duct, forming apreheating chamber for said oil, said chamber communicating with saidpump means for securing said pump to said housing means;

mounting means adjustably securing said housing means to said engine;and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber.

8. A system for supplying oil to an internal-combustion engine whereinsaid oil is admixed with fuel prior to introduction into said engine,said engine being mounted for at least limited vibration relative to asupport and having an exhaust duct extending therefrom, said systemcomprising:

a reservoir for said oil mounted upon said support;

an oil-displacing pump secured to said engine and coupled therewith saidengine for operation thereby to meter oil to said engine;

housing means on said engine of heat-conductive material inheat-absorbing relationship with said duct, forming a preheating chamberfor said oil, said chamber communicating with said pump; and

conduit means flexibly interconnecting said reservoir and said heatingchamber and dimensioned to permit substantially free flow of saidoilfrom said reservoir at substantially any operable viscosity of said oil.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said duct extends laterallyfrom said engine, said housing means being disposed above said duct,further comprising wall means interposed between said duct and saidhousing means and forming a substantially vertical heat shaft openingtoward said housing means.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, wherein said housing means is formedwith a downwardly open concavity registering with said shaft.

11. A system as defined in claim '8 wherein said engine includes acylinder block, further comprising a transmission tube connecting saidpump with said engine, said block being provided with an outwardly opengroove receiving said tube at least along a portion thereof.

12. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein said tube is supported insaid grove substantially at its midpoint.

13. A system as defined in claim 8, wherein said pump is flanged to saidhousing means, further comprising mounting means adjustably securingsaid housing means to said engine, said mounting means including a pivotabout 'which said housing means is displaceable, and locking means forsecuring said housing means in a selected position about said pivot.

14. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said support constitutes partof a motor-vehicle body, said engine being mounted upon the chassis ofthe motor vehicle.

15. A system as defined in claim 14 wherein said support constitutespart of a wheel housing of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,947,291 Klinge Aug. 2, 196 0 FOREIGN PATENTS 644,933 Germany Apr. 22,1937 678,269 Germany July 12, 1939 1,011,934 France Apr. 9, 19521,106,553 Germany May 10, 1961

1. A SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING OIL TO AN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE WHEREINSAID OIL IS ADMIXED WITH FUEL PRIOR TO INTRODUCTION INTO SAID ENGINE,SAID ENGINE BEING MOUNTED FOR AT LEAST LIMITED VIBRATION RELATIVE TO ASUPPORT, SAID SYSTEM COMPRISING: A RESERVOIR FOR SAID OIL MOUNTED UPONSAID SUPPORT; AN OIL-DIPLACING PUMP SECURED TO SAID ENGINE AND COUPLEDTHEREWITH FOR OPERATION THEREBY TO METER OIL TO SAID ENGINE; HOUSINGMEANS ON SAID ENGINE FORMING A PRE-HEATING CHAMBER FOR SAID OIL, SAIDCHAMBER COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PUMP; AND CONDUIT MEANS FLEXIBLYINTERCONNECTING SAID RESERVOIR AND SAID HEATING CHAMBER.